Mastering the Art of Creating Your Own Custom GPT: A Step-by-Step Guide

 

So, you've been using ChatGPT for a while, and now you're thinking, "Wouldn't it be amazing if ChatGPT knew exactly what I wanted without me having to explain it every single time?" Well, my friend, that's exactly what custom GPTs are for! Let me walk you through how to create your very own personalized AI assistant that thinks like you (minus the coffee addiction and occasional existential crises).

What is a Custom GPT, Anyway?

Think of a custom GPT as ChatGPT after it's been to a specialized training camp. It's still ChatGPT at its core, but now it has special instructions, knowledge, and capabilities that make it uniquely suited to help with specific tasks or topics that matter to you.

It's like having a digital mini-me, except it doesn't need sleep and won't raid your refrigerator at midnight.

Why Create a Custom GPT?

Before we dive into the how-to, let's talk about why you might want to create one:

• Save time: No more explaining your company's style guide every single time
• Consistency: Get responses that follow your preferred approach
• Specialized knowledge: Give it documents only relevant to your field
• Automation: Create an assistant that knows exactly how to handle routine tasks

Plus, it's just plain cool to say, "Oh, that? That's my personal AI assistant. No big deal." (Though I recommend not actually saying this at parties unless you want to spend the evening explaining what GPTs are.)

Its also a cool way to drive business. Add the link at the bottom of your email signature, below your articles and blogs and videos and have customers wondering how you did this….

How to Create Your Own Custom GPT

Step 1: Access GPT Builder

First things first, you'll need a ChatGPT Plus subscription to create custom GPTs. I know, I know—another subscription. But think of all the time you'll save not having to explain your brand voice for the thousandth time!

Once you're subscribed:

1. Log into your ChatGPT account
2. Look for "Explore" or "Create" in the menu
3. Select "Create a GPT" or "GPT Builder"

Step 2: Start with a Clear Vision

Before jumping in, take a moment to clarify:

• What specific problem will your GPT solve?
• Who is it for? (You, your team, your clients?)
• What tone should it have? (Professional, casual, sarcastic?)
• What knowledge should it have access to?

This pre-planning will save you from creating yet another "Jack of all trades, master of none" GPT that joins the ever-growing collection of digital assistants that sound impressive but aren't actually that useful.

Step 3: Name and Describe Your GPT

Give your GPT a name that clearly communicates its purpose. "MasterOfEverything9000" might sound cool, but "QuickSocialMediaPostCreator" tells people exactly what it does.

Write a clear description that explains:

• What the GPT does
• Who it's designed for
• How it should be used

Remember: good descriptions attract the right users and set proper expectations. Bad descriptions lead to conversations that start with "Why aren't you helping me plan my wedding? Your name is WeddingPlanner!" "Yes, but I'm a planner who works AT weddings, not someone who PLANS weddings..."

My GPTs are called – Ask Frank – LinkedIn Maximizer and Ask Frank – Your Video Strategy Coach

Step 4: Define the Instructions

This is where the magic happens! In the instructions field, you'll essentially be programming your GPT's personality and capabilities without writing a single line of code.

Good instructions include:

• Role and identity: How should it introduce itself?
• Knowledge limits: What should it know or not know?
• Response format: How should information be presented?
• Tone and voice: Formal? Casual? Funny? Sarcastic?
• Handling specific questions: Any particular approaches to common questions?

The more specific your instructions, the better your GPT will perform. Think of this as writing a job description for your digital employee.

Step 5: Upload Knowledge

This step is optional but powerful. You can upload PDFs, documents, and other files that contain specialized knowledge your GPT should have access to.

This is perfect for:

• Company guidelines
• Product specifications
• Research papers
• Training materials
• That novel you've been working on for six years (don't worry, your GPT won't judge the plot holes)

Remember that the documents you upload will only be accessible to this specific GPT, and they'll influence how it responds to queries related to that information.

Step 6: Configure Capabilities

Decide which additional capabilities your GPT should have:

• Web browsing: Can it search the web for information?
• DALL-E image generation: Can it create images?
• Code interpreter: Can it run code?

Choose wisely based on what your GPT needs to accomplish. A recipe GPT probably needs image generation to show the final dish, while a coding assistant needs the code interpreter.

Step 7: Test Your GPT

Before sharing your creation with the world (or just your annoyed colleagues who are tired of hearing about AI), test it thoroughly!

Try asking questions that:

• Are directly related to its purpose
• Are slightly off-topic to see how it handles them
• Might be challenging based on its limitations

This testing phase is crucial for refining your instructions and ensuring your GPT behaves as expected.

Step 8: Refine and Iterate

Based on your testing, go back and refine your instructions. This is often an iterative process—you'll notice patterns in how your GPT responds and can adjust accordingly.

Don't be afraid to say things like "When asked about X, always emphasize Y" or "Never suggest Z even if directly asked."

Step 9: Publish and Share

Once you're satisfied with your creation, decide whether to:

• Keep it private for personal use
• Share it with specific people or your organization
• Publish it publicly in the GPT store

If you're creating it for professional purposes, consider starting with limited sharing to gather feedback before a wider release.

Watch the video I have created showing exactly how to do it – click here

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Vague instructions: "Be helpful" is too general; "Provide step-by-step guidance for using our product's API" is specific.
• Overloading with documents: More isn't always better; focus on quality information.
• Unrealistic expectations: Your GPT won't have perfect domain expertise unless you provide that knowledge.
• Neglecting to test edge cases: What happens when someone asks something completely unrelated?

Final Thoughts

Creating a custom GPT is a bit like raising a digital pet—it needs clear guidelines, proper training, and regular attention to perform at its best. The good news is that unlike real pets, you can edit its behavior instantly if it starts chewing on the metaphorical furniture.

Remember that your GPT will only be as good as the instructions and knowledge you provide it. Take the time to craft clear guidelines, and you'll end up with a powerful tool that saves you time and makes you look like a tech wizard to your less AI-savvy colleagues.

Now go forth and create your digital mini-me! Just remember that if you create a custom GPT with your sense of humor, you're legally required to laugh at its jokes. I don't make the rules, I just report them

Also remember, if you would like to hire me to speak at your next conference or just coach your team, please email me at frank@frankfurness.com

Check out my website www.frankfurness.com my 

YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/salestips and follow me on 

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankfurness/

 

Build Your Personal AI Assistant Without Coding!

Hashtag Mastery: The Ultimate Guide to Boosting Your LinkedIn Engagement

 

Let me tell you something that might shock you. Most professionals are leaving serious engagement on the table by misusing—or completely ignoring—LinkedIn hashtags. I've spent decades helping businesses transform their results through smarter digital strategies, and hashtags remain one of the most underutilized tools in the professional's arsenal.

Why Hashtags Matter on LinkedIn (And Why You Should Care)

LinkedIn isn't Facebook or Instagram, but make no mistake—hashtags work differently here, not less effectively. When I consult with executives and sales teams worldwide, many are stunned to discover how strategic hashtag use can amplify their content's reach by 40% or more.

Think about this: LinkedIn has over 950 million users, but your organic posts typically reach just a tiny fraction of your network. Hashtags break through this limitation, serving as content categorization tools that make your posts discoverable to people beyond your immediate connections.

Here's what happens: When someone follows a hashtag like #SalesStrategy or #LeadershipDevelopment, your content enters their feed even if you've never connected. This creates exponential reach potential—exactly what you need if you're serious about building authority in your space.

The Science Behind LinkedIn Hashtag Success

Through years of testing across various industries and coaching thousands of professionals, I've developed a framework for hashtag success that consistently delivers results. Let me walk you through it.

The 3-3-3 Method

The most effective LinkedIn hashtag strategy follows what I call the "3-3-3 Method":

1. 3 Broad Hashtags (100,000+ followers) These cast a wide net. Examples: #Leadership, #Marketing, #Sales
2. 3 Medium-Range Hashtags (10,000-100,000 followers) These target your specific industry or expertise. Examples: #B2BSales, #DigitalTransformation, #ExecutiveCoaching
3. 3 Niche Hashtags (under 10,000 followers) These reach highly targeted communities. Examples: #SalesSpeaker, #KeynoteSpeaking, #SalesEnablement

Why does this work? The broad hashtags give you maximum exposure potential, while the niche ones ensure your content reaches the exact audience most likely to engage with your specific expertise.

How to Research Effective Hashtags

Don't guess which hashtags to use—research them properly:

1. Start typing a hashtag in LinkedIn's search bar and note the follower count
2. Check what hashtags industry leaders and competitors are using
3. Analyze which hashtags generate the most engagement on your existing posts
4. Use LinkedIn's content suggestions feature to identify trending topics in your network

A powerful tactic I teach my clients: create a spreadsheet of 30-40 relevant hashtags sorted by follower count. This becomes your strategic hashtag library, ready to deploy based on the specific content you're sharing.

Common Hashtag Mistakes That Kill Your Engagement

After reviewing thousands of LinkedIn profiles and posts, I've identified the deadly mistakes professionals make with hashtags:

Mistake #1: Hashtag Stuffing Adding 15+ hashtags makes your post look desperate and spammy. LinkedIn's algorithm actually penalizes this behavior.

Mistake #2: Using Only Ultra-Popular Hashtags When you use only massive hashtags like #Marketing (with millions of followers), your content gets lost in the noise.

Mistake #3: Irrelevant Hashtag Usage Adding trending hashtags unrelated to your content might get views, but destroys your credibility and alienates followers.

Mistake #4: Inconsistent Hashtag Strategy Using completely different hashtags for every post prevents you from building a loyal audience around specific topics.

Mistake #5: Poor Hashtag Placement Burying hashtags in comments or placing them awkwardly within sentences disrupts readability and reduces effectiveness.

Advanced Hashtag Tactics for LinkedIn Power Users

Once you've mastered the basics, these advanced strategies will put you in the top 1% of LinkedIn content creators:

Create Your Own Branded Hashtag

Develop a unique hashtag representing your personal brand or business. I use #FrankFurness to create a searchable collection of all my content. This builds brand recognition and makes it easy for followers to find your complete body of work.

Participate in Hashtag Communities

Don't just use hashtags—engage with them. Spend 15 minutes daily commenting on other posts using your target hashtags. This increases your visibility within these communities and often leads to reciprocal engagement.

Use Event-Specific Hashtags

When attending or speaking at industry events, leverage their official hashtags. This immediately plugs you into the event conversation and puts your content in front of highly engaged industry peers.

Analyze Hashtag Performance

Track which hashtag combinations drive the most:

• Profile views
• Post impressions
• Comments and shares
• New connection requests

Adjust your strategy based on real data, not assumptions. The LinkedIn algorithm constantly evolves, making regular analysis essential.

Implementing Your LinkedIn Hashtag Strategy

Now let's get practical about implementation:

Step 1: Audit Your Current Content

Review your last 10 LinkedIn posts. What hashtags did you use? What engagement did each receive? Identify patterns of what's working and what isn't.

Step 2: Create Your Strategic Hashtag Library

Develop your personalized collection of hashtags across the broad, medium, and niche categories we discussed earlier.

Step 3: Develop a Content Calendar

Plan your content themes weekly, assigning the most appropriate hashtag combinations to each post based on subject matter and target audience.

Step 4: Monitor and Adjust

Set monthly review dates to assess hashtag performance and refine your approach based on engagement metrics.

Step 5: Stay Current

LinkedIn's algorithm changes frequently. Stay informed about platform updates that might affect hashtag performance.

The Future of LinkedIn Hashtags

The LinkedIn algorithm continues to evolve, with increasing emphasis on topic relevance and content categorization. Professionals who master hashtag strategy now will have a significant advantage as the platform grows more sophisticated.

Recent LinkedIn updates suggest the platform is moving toward more precise content distribution, making strategic hashtag use even more valuable for ensuring your content reaches the right audience.

Your Next Steps

If you're serious about increasing your LinkedIn visibility and engagement, implement the 3-3-3 Method this week. Start with just one thoughtful post using this strategic hashtag approach, and I guarantee you'll see improved results.

Remember: LinkedIn success isn't about posting more—it's about posting smarter. Strategic hashtags are your ticket to exponentially greater reach without creating more content.

Want more proven strategies for LinkedIn success? Visit www.frankfurness.com for my complete resources on digital selling and social media mastery.